• FluffyPotato@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      12
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      4 months ago

      Nah, the US is the largest part of NATO but every member contributes and it’s more like the only reason Russia hasn’t done a “special military operation” here.

      • PsychedSy@lemmy.dbzer0.com
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        arrow-down
        5
        ·
        4 months ago

        The US military is bigger than every other military combined, unless things have changed in the last few years.

        We build bases and share planes and tech, they let us and save on defense. Our defense strategies involve using NATO bases to fuck up opposing belligerents.

        • FluffyPotato@lemm.ee
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          6
          arrow-down
          2
          ·
          4 months ago

          Not really, NATO as an organizational is made of of the military and equipment of all members. Also NATO and US bases are different, if the US pulls out it’s not taking NATO bases with it. Also I’m pretty sure the US doesn’t use NATO bases for its military operations but their own bases but I’m too lazy to look that up. Also also NATO countries defence strategy has been more like “If you attack one member you attack everyone” so no one really has.

          • PsychedSy@lemmy.dbzer0.com
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            1
            arrow-down
            3
            ·
            4 months ago

            If you attack a NATO member, the largest military in the world responds. The US has multiple of the largest air forces if you count our military services separately. I would assume Trump pulling us from NATO would affect our forward bases, but we may do better than brexit I guess. I just don’t see it as likely. But, my point is that our independent and joint military ventures frees up nations with smaller GDPs to focus less on their own defense (even if they contribute more as a percentage) and it’s a situation the US military likes.

            • FluffyPotato@lemm.ee
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              4
              arrow-down
              2
              ·
              4 months ago

              I’m not so sure it would. Like, yea, the US has enough military to take on like the other top 5 militaries in the world and win but NATO doesn’t really need that. It’s mostly about defence and the only country currently invading countries in Europe is Russia which can’t seem to beat Ukraine alone. The biggest issue if the US pulls out is supporting Ukraine but defensively NATO is fine without the US I think.

              • ℍ𝕂-𝟞𝟝
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                3
                ·
                4 months ago

                NATO has nuclear second strike capabilities globally even without the US and that’s enough against overt military threats.

                We need to get better at this hybrid war bullshit bc that’s exactly what the US is falling to right now.

    • bradorsomething@ttrpg.network
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      4 months ago

      Speaking of which we better build a shit-ton of those refueling planes when we get kicked out of Europe in the next 10 years. If we’re not there to protect, we’re just shitty renter that prop up the sex trade.